Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary really buy you in Alaska?
Alaska is 2.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Alaska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.0, meaning prices are 2.0% higher the national average. A Atmospheric and Space Scientists earning $94,380 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $92,529 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Alaska's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $61,150 | $59,950 | $-1,199 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $65,230 | $63,950 | $-1,279 |
| Median (P50) | $94,380 | $92,529 | $-1,850 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $106,510 | $104,421 | $-2,088 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $135,030 | $132,382 | $-2,647 |
Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $94,380 keeps most of its value at $92,529 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.0, Alaska is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living, $94,380 nominal nets out to $92,529 in real purchasing power — a small 2.0% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Atmospheric and Space Scientists.
Alaska's rank of #31 of 47 states means real purchasing power for Atmospheric and Space Scientists trails the national half-way line.
Where does Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Alaska ranks #31 out of 47 states for Atmospheric and Space Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Atmospheric and Space Scientists take-home pay in Alaska after taxes →
A Atmospheric and Space Scientists in Alaska earns a median salary of $94,380 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $92,529 — a -2.0% difference.
Alaska's cost of living is 2.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Alaska is 102.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Atmospheric and Space Scientists in Alaska: $94,380 x (100 / 102.0) = $92,529. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.